Mop having pivotal clamp



June 8, 1965 w R. AUWARTER MOP HAVING PIVOTAL CLAMP Filed May 27, 19632o '9 a 40 s 39 N4 H V 35 38 FIG. 4

'(Ii i i li United States Patent Filed May 27, 1963, Ser. No. 233,350 3Claims. (Cl. 15-229) This invention relates to a mop, and moreparticularly to an improved hood and locking arm.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved plasticconnector or hood for use with mops, wherein in the present invention ,alocking arm for the mop head is arranged so that furniture and the likewill not be scratched during use of the mop.

A furtherobject is to provide a mop which is constructedso that the usersuch as the housewife can easily and readily replace the mop head afterthe mop head has become worn out, and wherein the present inventionutilizes a spring metal clip or locking arm which serves to lock the mophead in its proper location, and wherein the locking arm is completelyenclosed within the outer edges of the plastic hood so as to preventscratching or marring or damage to furniture, or the. like.

Still another object is to provide such a hood or conneotor device whichis ruggedly constructed so that for example breakage or cracking thereofwill be prevented when the mop is pulled through a wringer.

A further object is to provide a plastic mop hood which has a lockingarm operatively connected thereto, and wherein the locking arm or clipserves to firmly lock the mop head in place, and wherein when desiredthe clip can be depressed as, for example, in order to permit a new mophead to 'be inserted in place of the old mop head, the hood including apair of openings which are spaced inwardly from the ends thereof so thatthe adjacent portions of the locking arm will extend through theseopenings and this will prevent any projecting portions of the metallockingarm from marring or scratching furniture or the like. h

The present invention "also includes an improved means for connectingthe hood and mop handle together, the hood also being of improvedesthetic construction and having a plurality of ribs therein which arearranged to provide certain important advantages, as for example theribs have curved end portions which help prevent slipping of the mophead and help to hold the mop head firmly and securelyin place, andwherein the ribs in conjunction with the'hollow interior of the hoodcreate an air space above the yarn mop head for accelerating the dryingof the rnop after it has been used and for preventing the mop head frombecoming mildewed, deteriorating or the like,

and wherein the plastic hood has an outer surface which is smooth andcontoured and constructed to prevent water or dirt from becoming trappedin any crevices or cracks or indentations on the outer surface of thehood.

Still another object is to provide such a mop hood and locking arm thatare economical to manufacture and eflicient in use and which are ruggedin structure and foolproof in operation.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from areading of the following specification and claims, together with theaccompanying drawing, wherein like parts are referred to and indicatedby like reference characters, and wherein: 1

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the mop hood ofthe present invention, with parts of the mop broken away.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line of FIG. 1.

Patented June 8, 1965 FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates the mopwhich includes a hood that is indicated generally by the numeral 11 inFIG. 1 for example, and the hood 11 is adapted to be made of a suitableplastic material of one-piece construction. The numeral 12 indicates aportion of the mop handle, and the hood 11 consists of a hollow bodymember 13. The numeral 14 indicates the mop head, and the numeral 15indicates a locking arm for maintaining the head 14 connected to thehood 11.

As shown in the drawing, the hood 11 is shaped to include spacedparallel flat side surfaces 16, as well as generally arcuate endsurfaces 17, and adjacent pairs of surfaces 17 meet at an edge orjunction 18.

The hood 11 includes a handle receiving portion or socket portion 19which has a generally cylindrical recess or opening 20 therein forreceiving the end portion of the handle 12. As shown in FIG. 2 forexample, the hood ll has a pair of spaced apart openings 21 therein, andthese openings 21 are spaced inwardly from the ends 24of the hood. Thenumeral 22 indicates recesses or indentations in the hood adjacent theopenings 21 for a purpose to be later described, and there is furtherprovided flat surfaces 23 on the hood contiguous to the openings 21.

Arranged within the hollow hood or body member is a plurality of spacedparallel integral ribs such as the ribs 25, 26 and 27, and as shown inFIG. 2, .the ribs increase in length progressively from the outer endportion of the hood towards the center portion thereof. That is, the rib26 is longer than the rib 25, and the rib 27 is longer than the adjacentrib 26. It is to be understood that the number of these ribs can bevaried as desired or required. The lower ends or edges. of these ribsare shaped arcuately as at 28 for engaging the adjacent portion of thernop head 14, FIG. 4.

The locking arm 15 is in the nature of a spring clip made of metal andis shown to comprise a first portion which is arranged contiguous to theupper surface of one of the flat portions 23 as shown in FIG. 2, and thelocking arm 15 further includes a second portion 30' that is arranged atright angles; with respect to the portion 29, and the portion 30 extendsthrough the adjacent opening 21. The locking arm 15 further includes amain straight portion or third portion 31 which is arranged at rightangles with respect to the portion 30, and the numeral 32 indicates afourth portion which is arranged at right angles with respect to theportion 31, and the fourth portion 32 is upstanding and projects-throughthe opposite opening 21, that is the portion30 extends through oneopening 21, and the portion 32 extends through the other opening 21. Theupstanding portion 32 terminates in a portion 42 which is arranged atright angles to the portion 32, and the portion 42 is arrangedcontiguous to the upper surface of one of the fiat portions 23- as shownin FIG. 2, and there is further provided an upwardly extended portion 33which is arranged approximately at right angles with respect totheportion 42. The extended portion of the metal arm acts as a lockingmechanism in conjunction with the flat surface 23 of the plastic hood.As shown in FIG. 2 for example, the portions 30 and 32are-spacedinwardlyfrom the ends 24 of the hood so that these portions ofthe metal locking arm will not scratch or mar or otherwise damagefurniture or the like when the mop is being used.

The numeral 35 designates each of a pair of diametrically opposedflanges which are arranged withinthe socket portion 19, and the flanges35 are integrally joined to the hood at the upper portions thereof, butthese parts are constructed so that there is a space 37 between portionsof the flanges 35 and the walls of the hood in order to provide acertain degree of flexibility for the flanges. The flanges 35 havearcuate or rounded lug portions or fingers 36 on the lower ends thereof,and these fingers 36 are adapted to engage a pair of diametricallyopposed grooves 34 that are formed in the lower end of the handle 12,FIG. 2.

The numeral 38 designates each of a pair of shoulders or enlargedportions which are interposed between the flanges or skirt portions 35,and the lower edges of the shoulders 38 terminate below the lower endsof the flanges 35. The shoulders 38 are partially separated from theflanges 35 by means of slots or recesses 40, and there is provided onthe shoulders 38 diametrically opposed tapered or pointed projections 39which are adapted to engage portions of the mop handle 12 as laterdescribed in this application.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that there has been provided animproved mop hood or connecting device, and in use with the partsarranged as shown in the drawing, it will be seen that the hood 11 isadapted to be made of a single piece of suitable material such as asuitable plastic material, and the hood 11 has a hollow interior and hasthe locking bar or clip 15 associated therewith whereby the mop head 14can be properly and securely held in place. The hood 11 is adapted to befirmly connected to the handle or rod 12.

With the handle 12 properly positioned in the opening 20, it will beseen that the grooves or recesses 34 in the handle 12 will be engaged bythe fingers or lugs 36 of the flanges 35, and in additon the pointedprojections 39 of the shoulders 38 will dig into portions of the handle12 slightly and this construction will serve to insure that the handleand hood will remain firmly connected together. The flanges are joinedto the hood at the top portioins of the flanges only so that there isprovided spaces 37 between the flanges 35 and the adjacent portions ofthe hood and this construction in conjunction with the slots or recessesserves to insure that the flanges 35 will have a slight amount ofresiliency so that the handle 12 can be readily moved through theopening 20 in order to permit the fingers 36 to properly seat in orengage the grooves 34.

The clamping bar 15 is arranged as shown in FIG. 2 so that a portion 30thereof extends through one of the openings 21, and the main straightportion 31 of the clamping bar 15 extends through a portion of the mophead 14, and the portion 32 of the clamping bar 15 extends up throughthe opening 21 and this arrangement provides a means for securelyfastening the mop head to the hood. Due to the inherent resiliency ofthe spring metal clamping bar 15, the clamping bar 15 will exert theproper amount of holding action, to maintain the mop head 14 connectedto the hood in the desired manner. When it is desired to change the head14, as for example when the head 14 becomes worn out, it is onlynecessary to lightly press the extended portion 33 towards the hoodouter wall surface 24 so that the portion 42 clears the portion 23, andthen the portion 32 is depressed or moved downwardly through the opening21 whereby the portion 30 can pivot or fulcrum through its opening 21 sothat the clamping bar or locking bar 15 will be released from the mophead 14. Thus, the mop head 14 can be removed and a new mop head can bearranged in engagement with the portion 31 whereby the locking arm orbar 15 can be returned to its locked position as shown in FIG. 2 so thatthe mop can be used in the proper manner.

It is to be noted that the portions 30 and 32 extend through theopenings 21, and the portions 30 and 32 are spaced inwardly from theends 24 of the hood 11, and this construction is important since itserves to insure that there will be no projecting metal portionsextending beyond the ends of the hood whereby furniture and the likewill not be scarred or scratched by such metal portions.

The parts can be made of any suitable material and in different shapesor sizes.

It will therefore be seen that there has been provided a new typeplastic connector for use with mops which is an improvement overpriorsuch devices. An important feature or aspect of the present invention isthat the device is constructed so that furniture and the like will notbe scratched, when the mop is being used. In other words, the spring orlocking arm 15 is self enclosed and located in such a position so thatfurniture cannot be scratched.

Some of the important advantages or features of the plastic mop hood ofthe present invention are as follows. The present invention makes itpossible for the housewife to easily replace the mop head after it hasbeen worn out with a new mop head. Also, after the mop head has beenassembled to the plastic hood, the spring metal clip or arm 15 whichlocks the mop head in place, is completely enclosed within the outeredges of the plastic hood and this prevents scratching of furniture. Inother words the portions 30 and 32 are spaced inwardly from the ends 24so that scratching or damage or marring of furniture will be prevented.Thus, if the metal locking device was made so that it Went completelyaround the outer edges of the hood on the outside of both ends of thehood, furniture would or could be scratched by such metal portionsduring use of the mop but this is not possible with the presentinvention.

In addition the hood of the present invention is structurally strong inorder to prevent breaking or cracking when the mop is pulled through awringer.

The anchor end of the spring metal clip or arm 15 is fitted through ahole or opening 21 on the inside portion of the outer edge of the hoodin such a way that it will swivel Without falling out. The hood isconstructed so that the removable end 32 of the spring metal clip or armcan easily be inserted through the opening 21 at the opposite end of thehood and this has a friction fit. When the metal clip 15 is insertedthrough the opening 21 as shown in FIG. 2, with the friction fit the mophead is firmly locked in place. Also, when the member 15 is depressed,that is when the portion 32 is depressed down through the opening 21 byovercoming the frictional fit of the portion 32 in the opening 21, themop head 14 is released so that a new mop head can be used to replacethe old mop head.

It is to be noted that the hood is constructed so that both the hole oropening 21 in the plastic hood for the anchor end of the spring metalclip mechanism, and also the opposite hole 21 at the opposite end of thehood for the removable end 32 of the spring metal clip mechanism whichutilizes the friction fit, are arranged so that both holes 21 are insideof the outer edges of the hood. In other words, not only are theopenings 21 spaced slightly inward from the end portions 24 of the hood,but in addition the openings 21 are spaced inwardly from the adjacentside surfaces 16 in order to insure that the metal spring mechanism iscompletely encased by the plastic hood at both the ends and the sides,and this prevents any possibility of marring furniture or the like. Theportions of the hood in the vicinity of the openings 21 are countersunkand indented in order to properly encase the metal clip or armmechanism.

The portions 36 are arranged so that they are discontinuous or separatedfrom each other and this construction permits the mop handle 12 to beinserted into the opening 20 so that the grooves 34 will be engaged bythe portions 36 in order to look the handle and hood together. The slot40 and spaces 37 provide a certain degree of flexibility for the flanges35 in order to permit the flanges 35 to flex slightly as for examplewhen the handle is being initially inserted in the opening 20 so thatthe portions 36 can properly seat in or engage the grooves 34. Also, the

durability. The lower ends of the ribs are curved as at 28 and thiscurved edge construction 28 serves to force the mop strands of the mophead 14 outwardly. When actually mopping, this will result in the mopstrands themselves being distributed between the floor and the leadingedge of the plastic hood and this will prevent scratching of the floor.

It is to be noted that with further regard to the previously describedribs, the hollow effect created between the ribs and the outer wallsurface of the hood creates an air space above the yarn mop head 14which will help .speed up the drying of the mop after it has been used,and this will also prevent the mop head from mildewing anddeteriorating. In addition the curved ends 28 of the ribs help preventthe mop head from slipping and help hold the mop head firmly andsecurely in place when in use. i

' Asshown in FIG. 1 for example, the outer surface of the plastic hoodhas a smooth, contoured, overall configuration or design and for exampleincludes the flat side surfaces. as well as the arcuate surfaces 17 andthe edge portions 18, and this construction prevents water or dirt frombecoming trapped in any crevices or indentations or cracks on the outersurface of the hood.

The projections 39 are provided with sharp edges to engage a portion ofthe handle 12 in order to help maintain the hood and handle properlyconnected together.

The present invention consists of a minimum number of parts and whereinthe device is constructed so that the metal clip or arm is encasedwhereby there will be no parts sticking out to scratch furniture duringuse of the mop.

The present invention is especially suitable as a household wet mop andincludes the replaceable head feature with the snap through locking arm.The complete mop may be used or made available to be used with a mophead of rayon yarn for increased absorbent characteristics as well asfor having longer lasting qualities and to save time, and also can beused with mops made of cotton yarns, blends and synthetic yarns of alltypes. Or, the mop head may be made of cellulose yarn, and the mop headcan have a construction so that it is easy to clean and wherein tanglingor snarling is prevented and wherein the mop head will hold its propershape and dry quickly. The snap through locking arm 15 is adapted to,

be made of heavy gauge spring metal or rustproof material of one-pieceformation, and wherein the member 15 is easy to operate and serves tohold the mop head firmly in place.

According to the present invention it will be seen that there has beenprovided a construction which possesses certain important advantages andfor example there is an improved means for locking the stick or handleinto the mop holder or hood. There is also provided a rectangular recessarea for the mop head to provide more surface for the scrubbing area.There is shown in the drawing the member 1 5 of flat metal construction,and the member 15 is encased in recesses inside of the holder or hood.As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 for example, the lower edges of the ribs donot extend down as far as the lower edge portions of the sides and ends16 and 24 and this construction in conjunction with the curved edges 28provide the recessed area in the hood for holding the rnop head.

The clip or arm 15 permits easy removal of the mop head due to the snaplock feature. The member 15 is adapted to be made of a single piece offlat steel and does not use wing nuts or the like to hold the same inplace. The hood is constructed so that it has recessed 6 areas for boththe mop head as well as the metal clip or locking arm #15.

Itwill'be noted that with further reference to the 'metal clip or arm15, there is a right angular portion 42 where the sections 32 and '33come together. In addition to a friction fit, this construction providesan actual positive locking mechanism. Also, an end portion such as theportion 63 is tapered slightly to insure that there will be a smoothoperation thereof.

Minor changes in shape, size and rearrangement of details coming withinthe field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, ifdesired.

What is claimed is:

1. A mop comprising a handle, an elongated hood of one-piece plasticconstruction contiguous to said handle and said hood having a recessedarea, a mop head arranged contiguous to said hood and said mop headhaving a portion thereof positioned within the recessed area of saidhood, an encased releasable locking arm maintaining said head connectedto said hood, said hood being hollow and having a plurality of spacedapart integral ribs therein, the lower edges of said ribs being shapedarcuately and engaging a portion of the mop head, said hood having a'pair of openings therein which are spaced inwardly from the ends andsides of the hood, said locking arm having portions thereof which extendthrough saidopenings and which are' spaced inwardly from the ends andsides of the hood, means for connecting the handle and hood firmlytogether, said last named means comprises a handle socket on said hoodfor receiving said handle, said handle having grooves therein, flangesin said socket having inwardly directed fingers on the lower portionsthereof engaging said grooves, diametrically opposed shoulders in saidsocket, and said shoulders having sharp projections thereon for engagingportions of the handle, there being slots between the shoulders andflanges, and there being spaces between portions of the flanges and theadjacent portions of the hood.

2. A mop comprising a handle, an elongated hood of one-piece plasticconstruction contiguous to said handle and said hood having a recessedarea, a mop head arranged contiguous to said hood and said mop headhaving a portion thereof positioned within the recessed area of saidhood, an encased releasable locking arm maintaining said head connectedto said hood, said hood being hollow and having a plurality of spacedapart integral ribs therein, the lower edges of said ribs being shapedarcuately and engaging a portion of the mop head, said hood having apair of openings therein which are spaced inwardly from the ends andsides of the hood, said locking arm having portions thereof which extendthrough said openings and which are spaced inwardly from the ends andsides of the hood, and means for connecting the handle and hood firmlytogether, said last named means comprising a handle socket on saidhoodfor receivingv said handle, said handle having grooves therein, flangesin said socket having inwardly disposed fingers on the lower portionsthereof for engaging said grooves, shoulders arranged within the socketand said shoulders having sharp projections thereon for engagingportions of the handle, there being slots between the shoulders andflanges, and there being spaces between portions of the flanges and theadjacent portions of the hood, there being indented flat surfaces onsaid hood contiguous to the openings therein, and one of said flatsurfaces having a portion of the locking arm arranged in engagementtherewith, and the other opening adapted to have a portion of thelocking arm arranged in engagement therewith by means of a friction fit.

3. In a mop, an elongated hood made of a single piece of plastic andshaped to include spaced parallel flat side surfaces, arcuate endsurfaces, arranged angularly with respect to said flat surfaces, andsaid end surfaces meet-ing at an edge junction, said hood furtherincluding spaced parallel end portions, and said side surfaces and endsurfaces merging into an upstanding handle receiving socket portion,said hood having a pair of openings therein and said openings beingspaced inwardly from the ends and sides of the hood, there beingindentations in said hood adjacent said openings and said indentationsproviding flat surfaces in the hood, a plurality of spaced parallel ribsarranged within the hood, the lower edges of said ribs being shapedarcuately, the lower ends of said ribs terminating above the lower edgeof the hood whereby there is defined a recessed area in the hood, a mophead having a portion thereof seated in said recessed area in the hoodand engaging the lower edges of said ribs, a locking arm of spring metalcomprising a first portion arranged contiguous to one of the fiatsurfaces of an indentation, a second portion arranged at right angleswith respect to said first portion and said second portion extendingthrough a said opening in the hood, and a main straight third portionarranged at right angles with respect to said second portion and saidthird portion extending through a portion of the mop head, a fourthportion arranged at right angles to said third portion and said fourthportion extending through the other of said openings in the hood, andsaid fourth portion terminating in a flat portion which is arranged atright angles to said fourth portion, and said last named flat portionterminating in an upstanding portion, said handle receiving sockethaving a substantially cylindrical recess, a handle adapted to engagesaid last named recess, and said handle 8 having a pair of spaced apartgrooves in the lower portion thereof, a pair of diametrically opposedflanges arranged within said socket portion and said flanges havingenlarged arcuate fingers on the lower ends thereof for engaging thegrooves in the handle, portions of said flanges being spaced from saidhood, said socket portion further having a pair of diametrically opposedshoulders therein which are interposed between and spaced from theflanges, and a pair of diametrically opposed sharp projections extendinginwardly from the shoulders for engaging portions of the handle.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 675,449 6/01Smith 15-120 1,207,028 12/16 Gruenhagen 15116 2,242,869 5/41 Phipps15-147 2,825,084 3/58 Sanborn 15-229.1 X

FOREIGN PATENTS 186,812 9/56 Austria.

65,866 11/55 France.

OTHER REFERENCES Article in Modern Plastics, October 1954, pages 120 and121 entitled Trouble Free Waxer.

CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner,

1. A MOP COMPRISING A HANDLE, AN ELONGATED HOOD OF ONE-PIECE PLASTICCONSTRUCTION CONTIGUOUS TO SAID HANDLE AND SAID HOOD HAVING A RECESSEDAREA, A MOP HEAD ARRANGED CONTIGUOUS TO SAID HOOD AND SAID MOP HEADHAVING A PORTION THEREOF POSITIONED WITHIN THE RECESSED AREA OF SAIDHOOD, AN ENCASED RELEASABLE LOCKING ARM MAINTAINING SAID HEAD CONNECTEDTO SAID HOOD, SAID HOOD BEING HOLLOW AND HAVING A PLURALITY OF SPACEDAPART INTEGRAL RIBS THEREIN, THE LOWER EDGES OF SAID RIBS BEING SHAPEDARCUATELY AND ENGAGING A PORTION OF THE MOP HEAD, SAID HOOD HAVING APAIR OF OPENINGS THEREIN WHICH ARE SPACED INWARDLY FROM THE ENDS ANDSIDES OF THE HOOD, SAID LOCKING ARM HAVING PORTIONS THEREOF WHICH EXTENDTHROUGH SAID OPENINGS AND WHICH IS SPACED INWARDLY FROM THE ENDS ANDSIDES OF THE HOOD, MEANS FOR CONNECTING THE HANDLE AND HOOD FIRMLYTOGETHER, SAID LAST NAMED MEANS COMPRISES A HANDLE SOCKET ON SAID HOODFOR RECEIVING SAID HANDLE, SAID HANDLE HAVING GROOVES THEREIN, FLANGESIN SAID SOCKET HAVING INWARDLY DIRECTED FINGERS ON THE LOWER PORTIONSTHEREOF ENGAGING SAID GROOVES, DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED SHOULDERS IN SAIDSOCKET, AND SAID SHOULDERS HAVING SHARP PROJECTIONS THEREON FOR ENGAGINGPORTIONS OF THE HANDLE, THERE BEING SLOTS BETWEEN THE SHOULDERS ANDFLANGES, AND THERE BEING SPACES BETWEEEN PORTIONS OF THE FLANGES AND THEADJACENT PORTIONS OF THE HOOD.